Ornamental stitch sewing machine



Nov. 16, 1965 YASUKATA EGUCHI 3, 7

ORNAMENTAL STITCH SEWING MACHINE Filed 001:. 20, 1959 4 Sheets$heet l INVENTOR.

BY I

W S M Nov. 16, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 20, 1959 v JNVENTOR. BY 2 I I W & Wk

. Nov. 16, 1965 YASUKATA EGUCHI 3,217,677

ORNAMENTAL STITCH SEWING MACHINE Filed Oct. 20, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

BY I

Wsm/

Nov. 16, 1965 YASUKATA EGUCHI 3,

ORNAMENTAL STITCH SEWING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 20, 1959 INVENTOR.

W S. WM

United States Patent C) 3,217,677 ORNAMENTAL STITCH SEWING MACHINE Yasukata Eguchi, Tokyo, Japan, assignor to .lanome Sewing Machine Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan Filed Oct. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 847,569 Claims priority, application Japan, Oct. 20, 1958, 33/ 30,004 18 Claims. (Cl. 112-158) The present invention relates to an ornamental stitch sewing machine, and more particularly to a machine of this type in which different ornamental stitch patterns can be selected by operator controlled push-button means. Ornamental stitch sewing machines are known in which a plurality of intelligence record carrying means, such as cams, and having different records thereon in the form of different cam track patterns, are provided for controlling through suitable pick-up means the transverse oscillating movements of a needle for producing an ornamental zig-zag stitch pattern.

Different arrangements for selecting a desired stitch pattern have been proposed, and the present invention is mainly concerned with providing a particularly advantageous push-button control arrangement for selecting the cams 'by which the ornamental stitch pattern is controlled.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a push-button control arrangement for an ornamental stitch sewing machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement in which the cam followers which cooperate with the various pattern cams remain at all times connected to the needle by means of transmission means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide cam followers which are supported for pivotal movement on actuated push-button means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a push-button control arrangement permitting the simultaneous sensing of several cams by the associated cam follower means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a drive means for the cam unit which can be adjusted to vary the rotary speed of the cams.

Another object of the present invention is to intermittently rotate the cam unit including the pattern cams.

Another object of the present invention is to provide between the cam follower means and the needle, a transmission means which can be manually adjusted to different stitch amplitudes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a plurality of push-buttons forming a keyboard, and being connected to each other in such a manner that each pushbutton, or plurality or simultaneously actuated pushbuttons, is locked in an operative position, but is released when any other push-button is actuated.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a clearing push-button for releasing all actuated and locked push-button means.

With these objects in view, the present invention mainly consists in an ornamental stitch sewing machine which comprises a needle movable in longitudinal and transverse directions; driven intelligence record carrying means having a plurality of different response-producing records; a plurality of pick-up means respectively connected to said records for sensing and responding to the same; a plurality of push-button means operatively connected with said pick-up means for moving the same to a sensing position cooperating with said records and for supporting the same for pivotal movement about a fulcrum; and transmission means operatively connecting all pick-up means with the needle for shifting the needle transversely in conformance with the record sensed by pick-up means in sensing condition. In accordance with the present invention, all pick-up means are connected at all times to the transmission means, and the push-button means remain motionless during operation of the machine.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the records are cams having different cam track patterns, and the pick-up means are cam follower means. The operator influenced push-button means are selectively movable to actuated positions engaging at least one selected cam follower means for supporting the same for pivotal movement about a fulcrum. The respective selective cam fol-lower means is then rocked by the respective came and operates through the transmission means the needle to move in a transverse zig-zag stitch.

Preferably the locking means are provided for locking an actuated push-button means so that a rigid fulcrum is provided for the respective cam follower means. The locking means are released by operation of any other push-button, or by operation of a special clearing pushbutton.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the fulcrum for each cam fol-lower means is provided by a part-circular projection on each push-button means, and the cam follower means have corresponding partcircular recesses engaging the projection of the respective push-button means. The transmission means include a link connected to a pin passing through all cam follower means, and such pin is turna'ble with a lever about an axis which coincides with the center of the part-circular projection of any actuated push-button. In this manner, the transmission is positively connected to all cam follower means, although only selected cam follower means are moved to a sensing position cooperating with the pattern cams.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with addition-a1 objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a sewing machine incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an ornamental stitch sewing machine according to the present invention with the top Wall removed for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the push-button control arrangement according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 includes FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e and 4 which respectively are perspective views of parts used in the arrangement of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred construction of the locking means for the push-button means of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective developed view illustrating transmission parts by which the width of the stitches is adjusted;

FIG. 7 is a side view, partly in section, of a cam unit and a drive element for the same;

FIG. 8 is a perspective exploded view illustrating a drive element for transmitting a rotary motion to the cam unit; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a driving arrangement for transversely oscillating the needle.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, a keyboard is provided on the front wall of the sewing machine including a plurality of push-buttons 47 3% which are associated with different zigzag stitch patterns, and a clearing key 47a by which the zig-zag movement is rendered inoperative. A knob 65 permits the adjustment of the speed of the cam unit, as will be explained hereinafter, and a manually operated lever 11 influences the width or amplitude of the zig-zag stitches. The amplitude of the stitches can also be adjusted in a different manner by operation of the lever 25. The above control elements are related to the transverse zig-zag stitches of the machine, while on the right side of FIG. 1 a control means for adjusting the length of the stitches is illustrated.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, 7 and 8, a driven cam shaft 8 is mounted in the frame 2 of the machine and has an eccentric actuating cam portion 27. A cam unit, best seen in FIG. 7, includes a plurality of cams 9 each of which has a different cam track pattern. Cams 9 are nonrotatably mounted on a shaft 34 by means of a suitable key, and secured by a nut engaging the threaded end of shaft 34, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. A plate 35 is fixedly connected to shaft 34 and has two recesses 32 of gradually decreasing depth in which spring-loaded balls 33 are located. Balls 33 are confined in recesses 32 by a plate 22? which is secured to plate 35 by threaded means. Plate 29 has an extension on which the cam follower 30 is mounted, a projection 37, and another projection 82 connected to a spring 81 which is mounted on the frame as best seen in FIG. 2. Spring 81 tends to turn the cam unit including the drive element 29, 30 into a position in which cam follower 30 cooperates with the eccentric actuating cam portion 27. A stop means is provided which cooperates with projection 37 and includes a stop 46 having a thread 40' and a non-circular axial recess into which a corresponding non-circular part 83 projects. Part 83 is turnably mounted in frame 2 of the machine, and turned by the manually operated knob 65 so that stop 40 can be advanced or retracted whereby the relative position between cam follower 3i and eccentric cam 27 is varied. In the position illustrated in FIG. 2, cam follower 30 engages cam 27 during its entire revolution, but upon adjustment of knob 65, earn follower 30 can be moved against the action of spring 81 to a position spaced from cam 27 during part of the revolution of cam 27. It is evident that in accordance with adjustment of stop 40, cam follower 30 will be reciprocated through different angles, and will be turned in clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 by cam 27, and returned in counterclockwise direction by spring 81 until projection 37 engages stop 40, or until cam follower 30 abuts on cam 27.

The clockwise movement of cam follower 30 is transmitted by the one-way coupling means 32, 33 to the cam unit as best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, so that the cam unit will be turned in clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2. The turning speed of the cam unit is determined by operation of the knob 65 so that elements 27, 3t) constitute an adjustable reduction transmission.

Each of cams 9 carries a distinctive cam track patternv associated with the particular transverse zig-zag stitch. A cam follower means 1 is located opposite each cam 9 as best seen in FIG. 3. As best seen in FIG. 4b, each cam follower means has a part-circular recess 41 and a bore in at its end. A lever means 4 shown in FIG. 4d is turnably mounted on the frame of the machine, and

has at the free end thereof a pin passing through all bores 1a of the cam follower levers I. A screw 45 is threaded into the end of pin 5, and articulates a link It to pin 5 and to the stacked cam follower levers 1. FIG. 3 shows the four lower cam follower levers 1 in an inoperative position, and the uppermost cam follower lever 1 in a sensing position cooperating with the respective associated cam 9.

Push-button means are provided for shifting selected cam follower means 1 to the sensing position. Each pushbutton means includes a push-button 47, and a lever including a portion 46; passing through the machine casing, and a portion 7 turnably mounted on a fixed pin 6 in the 6 frame 2 of the machine. It is evident that each of the push-button means can be moved from the inoperative position in which the lower levers 7, 46 are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, to the operative position in which the uppermost push-button means is shown.

Each push-button lever has a part-circular projection 48 located in the above-described part-circular recess 41 of an associated cam follower 1. Each push-button means has a transverse shoulder 49 defining a recess, and a control portion 78 inclined to shoulder 49.

A clearing push-button means 47a is provided in addition to the operating push-buttons, and has a lever 7, 46 which is best seen in FIG. 4a. The clearing push-button means 47a has no recessed shoulder, but an arcuate portion replacing the projection 48 and the inclined control portion '78 of the other push-button means.

Locking means are provided for locking push-button means in operative position. As best seen in FIGS. 2, 5 and 4], a holding plate 50 is secured to the frame of the machine, and has a projecting portion 51 formed with a recess in which a locking plate 53, see FIG. 4 is slidably guided. A plate 38 closes the recess 52 and is held by screws 39. Locking plate 53 has an inclined locking projection 55 cooperating with the recessed shoulders 49 of the push-button means, as best seen in FIG. 2, and a spring 62 is attached to projection 59 of the locking plate 53 and has an end secured to a screw 61 which is secured to plate 50. The leg of locking plate 53 has the recess 60 through which stop screw 61 passes. A transverse projection 56 is provided on the locking plate 53. The holding plate 50 has two notches '71 and 72 which cooperate with catch means 25 on a handle 25 whose function will be explained hereinafter.

As is best seen in FIG. 2, spring 62 urges the locking plate 53 into a position in which the locking projections 55 abuts against the control portions 78 of push-button means in inoperative positions as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2. When a push-button means is moved to its operative position, locking projection 55 slides on control portion 76 so that the locking plate 53 is displaced to the left until the push-button means is in its operative position in which shoulder 43 is located opposite locking projection 55 so that locking projection 55 snaps into the recess behind shoulder 49 when locking plate 53 moves to the right as viewed in FIG. 2 under the action of spring 62. This position is shown in FIG. 2 for the uppermost push-button means 47, 7, which is shown to be locked by portion 55, so that the respective push-button means 47 cannot return to its normal position.

Such shifting of the respective push-button means 47 has displaced the uppermost cam follower lever to its sensing position. In accordance with the present invention, the part-circular projection 48 of a push-button means in sensing position has a center coinciding with the turning axis of the lever 4, see FIG. 4d, and of course, the center of the part-circular recess 41 of the cam follower means in sensing position has its center located in the same axis. Consequently, when the cam unit is rotated, the respective cam 9 will oscillate the associated cam follower means 1 in sensing position while lever 4 turns about the stationary pin 3 located in the bore 4' and secured to the frame 2. This effects reciprocation of pin 5 so that link llil is reciprocated. Link 10 is part of transmission means which are connected to the needle and effect the transverse zig-zag motion of the needle, as will be explained hereinafter.

It is evident that two or more push-button means 47 can be simultaneously depressed, since the respective control portions 78 will simultaneously displace projection 55 and locking plate 53. When the simultaneously actuated push-button means have arrived in operative; positions, the locking projection 55 will snap behind the shoulders 49 of both actuated push-button means, and in this event, two cam follower levers I will be in sensing position, and the oscillatory movement of link 10 will be composed of two oscillatory movements derived from two cam track patterns of two cams 9. However, when any other push-button means 47 is depressed later on, the locking plate 53 is shifted to the left by the respective control portion 78, and the locking projection 55 will release both previously locked push-button means, and snap into the recess behind shoulder 49 of the newly actuated push-button means 47.

The clearing push-button means 47a has no recessed shoulder 49, but only a curved portion 75 as shown in FIG. 4a. Therefore, actuation of the clearing pushbutton means 4712 will displace the locking projection 55 and the locking plate 53 to the left to a releasing position releasing all previously locked push-button means, whereupon the clearing push-button means 47a will return to its normal position, since it cannot be locked by projection 55. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4b, resilient means are provided for urging the pushbutton means to the normal position in which levers 7 abut against crosspiece 56 on locking plate 53. A spring element 57 is mounted on a bracket 63, and has a plurality of tongues 58 separated by slits 64 and respectively abutting on the levers 7 of the push-button means. Whenever a push-button means is depressed, the respective tongue 58 is resiliently deformed and tends to return the push-button means to its normal position.

As explained above, link 10 is oscillated when lever 4 rocks with pin 5 on which one end of link 10 is mounted. The other end of link 10 is articulated to the arm 44 of an angular stitch-width control lever 13 which is fixed by a screw 12 on a stitch-width control handle lever 11. A screw is secured to arm 80 of lever 13, and holds a spring 79 which tends to turn control lever 13 in counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2. An adjusting stop screw 8% passes through a threaded hole in arm 80, and abuts against a projection of the manually operated lever 11. A stop 36 limits turning movement of handle lever 11 by abutting against shoulders 11' and 11", respectively.

As best seen in FIG. 6, lever 13 has an arcuate groove 43 in its bottom face in which a roller means 15 of an arcuate slide member 66 is mounted. Arcuate slide member 66 is slidable in an arcuate groove 67 of a rocking lever 16 which is mounted for rocking movement about a pin 16a. The bottom face of rocking lever 16 has a groove 16b in which a cam 85 is located. As best seen in FIG. 9, cam 85 is connected by shaft 86 to a gear 87 meshing with a worm 88 on drive shaft 8 which also carries the eccentric cam 27, as described above. Consequently rotation of drive shaft 8 will effect turning movement of cam 85 so that rocking lever 16 will be rocked about pin 16a.

A curved connecting link 17 is articulated to the pin 15 which connects the roller 42 with the slide member 66. Consequently, rocking movement of rocking lever 16 will effect oscillation of connecting link 17 whose free end is articulated by a means 20 to a lever 19 which is mounted on the frame 2 for free rocking movement about a pin 18.

A connecting bar 21 has one end connected to the needle means 21a, and the other end provided with a transverse projection 68 which slidably engages the guide face 74 of a projecting wall 69 on rocking lever 19, as best seen in FIG. 6. Consequently, oscillation of rocking lever 19 effected by link 17 will effect oscillation of link 21 in a transverse zig-Zag movement.

A projection 76 forms part of the machine frame, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and turnably supports an amplitude limiting lever 22 which is secured to a handle 25. Catch means 25' cooperate with catch recesses 71 and 72 on plate 50 of the locking means, so that handle 25 can be arrested in two angularly displaced positions in which lever 22 is correspondingly displaced. Lever 22 has at its free end a slot 31' between a pair of prongs 31. A pin 28 on the end portion of connecting bar 21 is located in slot 31' so that the connecting bar 21 can be shifted by operation of handle 25. In this manner, the radial distance between the axis of pin 18 and the portion of wall 69 in the rocking lever 19 engaged by projection 68 can be varied by operation of lever 25. The amplitude of the transverse oscillatory movement of needle 21a will depend on such adjustment.

The greater amplitude of the oscillation will be used in connection with a single needle, and the other position will be used for two needles.

The sewing machine of the present invention is operated in the following manner:

The operator selects the stitch pattern in accordance with the indicia on the push-buttons 47 shown in FIG. 1. Assuming that the push-button having the indicia 1 is selected, the uppermost lever '7, 46 is shifted to the actuated position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. During movement of lever 7, the respective resilient tongue 58 is deformed, while locking projection slides on the control portion 78. When lever 7 arrives in its actuated position, locking projection 55 snaps into the recess behind shoulder 49 while locking plate 53 moves to the right as viewed in FIG. 2. The movement of locking plate 53 is limited by engagement of the recess 60, see FIG. 4 with screw 61.

The movement of push-button means 47, 46, 7 to its actuated position displaces the corresponding cam followor lever 1 so that it assumes a sensing position in which its free end cooperates with the corresponding cam 9. The part-circular recess 41 of the respective cam follower lever 11 is now located in a position in which its center coincides with the axis of the pin 3, see FIG. 3, which passes through the bore 4, see FIG. 4d, of lever 4.

When the machine is started, the drive shaft 8 rotates, and the eccentric portion 27 actuates cam follower 30 so that drive element 29 performs a reciprocating turning movement. The stroke of such movement depends on the adjustment of knob 65, since turning of knob in the position of FIG. 2 will advance adjustable stop 40 so that drive element 29 is turned clockwise and cam follower 30 will move away from the eccentric portion 27, since eccentric portion 27 is shown in FIG. 2 to have its smallest eccentricity located opposite cam follower 30. Assuming that cam follower 30 is adjusted to be spaced from the portion of lowest eccentricity of eccentric portion 27, the portion of greater eccentricity would still engage cam follower 30 during part of each revolution of shaft 8 and of eccentric portion 27. In this event, however, the reciprocating stroke of drive element 29 would be shorter.

As viewed in FIG. 2, only the clockwise strokes of drive element 29, 30 will be transmitted to the cam unit 9, since the one-way coupling 32, 33 is provided for this purpose. Consequently, the cam unit will perform an intermittent turning movement in clockwise direction. If the drive element 29 is adjusted to a shorter stroke during each revolution of the drive shaft 8, more revolutions of drive shaft 8 will be necessary to effect a complete revolution of the cam unit 9.

During such turning movement of the cam unit, the uppermost cam 9 will cooperate with the uppermost cam follower 1 which is in sensing position. Any actuated cam follower will turn and rock about the same axis on the fulcrum provided by the projection 48 of the actuated push-button means, and lever 4 will rock about the coinciding axis of pin 3. Consequently, pin 5 at the end of lever 4 will reciprocate and effect reciprocation of link 10 so that stitch width lever 13 oscillates. By turning of adjusting handle lever 11, the position of the slide member 66, see FIG. 6, in the groove of rocking lever 16 can be varied.

Rocking lever 16 is reciprocated about pin 16a by cam which is driven from shaft 8, see FIG. 9. Such reciprocating movement of rocking lever 16 is transmitted by link 17 to the rocking lever 19, see FIG. 4e, which 7 transmits its rocking motion through projection $8 on bar 21 to the needle holder 21a.

The amplitude of the transverse zig-Zag stitch depends on the distance of slide member 66 from the axis 16a of the rocking lever 16, and consequently the stitch can be adjusted by manual operation of handle lever llll to any desired width.

The handle 25 can be shifted between two positions only in accordance with the catch recesses '71 and 72, whereby projection 68 is shifted between two positions corresponding to two different predetermined amplitudes of the stitch. These two amplitudes are again determined by the radial distance between the axis of pin 18 and the point of control face 74 of the wall 69 against which projection 68 of the connetcing bar 21 abuts.

As shown in FIG. 1 indicia means are provided for indicating the position of lever 11, and the two positions of handle 25 can also easily be observed by the operator.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of ornamental stitch sewing machine dilfering from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a push-button selector arrangement for a zig-zag stitch sewing machine, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An ornamental stitch sewing machine comprising, in combination, a frame; a needle mounted on said frame for transverse movements; drive means; turnable cam means mounted on said frame and driven by said drive means, said cam means including a plurality of cams having different cam track patterns; transmission means connected to said needle; a plurality of cam follower means respectively located opposite said cams and connected to said transmission means so that movement of any one cam follower means actuates said needle through said transmission means, each cam follower means having first abutment means; operator influenced means having second abutment means, one of said abutment means having a recess and the other abutment means having a projection adapted to fit into said recess, said operator influenced means being selectively movable between a plurality of actuated positions in which said projection is located in said recess for supporting at least one cam follower means for angular movement only about a single axis in a sensing position in which the selected cam fol- .lower means engages the respective cam and is rocked by the same about said axis and on a fulcrum provided by said operator influenced means in said actuated position; and means for rigidly holding said operator influenced means in each of said actuating positions whereby said needle is transversely shifted in conformance with the pattern sensed by said cam follower means pivoting about said fulcrum while said operator influenced means is rigidly held and motionless.

2. An ornamental stitch sewing machine comprising, in combination, a frame; a needle mounted on said frame for transverse movements; drive means; turnable cam means mounted on said frame and driven by said drive means, said cam means including a plurality of cams having different cam track patterns; transmission means connected to said needle; a plurality of cam follower means respectively located opposite said cams and connected to said transmission means so that movement of any one cam follower means actuates said needle through said transmission means; and a plurality of push-button means respectively located opposite said cam follower means, each push-button means being movable to an actuated position abutting the respective opposite located cam follower means for supporting the same for pivotal movement about a single axis common to all said cam follower means and all said push button means in a sensing position in which the respective cam follower engages the associated cam and is rocked by the same about said axis and fulcrum provided by said push-button means in said actuated position; and means for rigidly holding each push button means in said actuated position whereby said needle is transversely shifted in conformance with the pattern sensed by said cam follower means pivoting in said sensing position about said fulcrum while the push button means in said actuated position is rigidly held and motionless.

3. An ornamental stitch sewing machine comprising, in combination, a frame; a needle mounted on said frame for transverse movements; drive means; turnable cam means mounted on said frame and driven by said drive means, said cam means including a plurality of cams having different cam track patterns; transmission means connected to said needle; a plurality of cam follower means respectively located opposite said cams and connected to said transmission means so that movement of any one cam follower means actuates said needle through said transmission means; a plurality of push-button means respectively located opposite said cam follower means, each push-button means having a projecting fulcrum portion and being movable to an actuated position in which said fulcrum. portion abuts the respective oppositely located cam follower means for supporting the same for pivotal movement about a single axis common to all said cam follower means and all said push button means in a sensing position in which the respective cam follower engages the associated cam and is rocked by the same about said axis and fulcrum provided by said fulcrum portion of said push-button means in said actuated position whereby said needle is transversely shifted in conformance with the pattern sensed by said cam follower in said sensing position; locking means on said frame for locking said push-button means in said actuated position so that a locked push-button means is rigidly supported on said frame in said actuated position for providing a rigid fulcrum, and is motionless; and means for releasing said locking means.

4. An ornamental stitch sewing machine comprising, in combination, a frame; a needle mounted on said frame for transverse movements; drive means; turnable cam means mounted on said frame and driven by said drive means, said cam means including a plurality of cams having different cam track patterns; transmission means connected to said needle; a plurality of cam follower means respectively located opposite said cams and connected to said transmission means so that movement of any one cam follower means actuates said needle through said transmission means; and a plurality of push-button means respectively located opposite said cam follower means, each push-button means being movable to an actuated position abutting the respective oppositely located cam follower means for supporting the same for pivotal movement about a fulcrum in a sensing position in which the respective cam follower engages the associated cam and is rocked by the same about the fulcrum provided by said push-button means in said actuated position whereby said needle is transversely shifted in conformance with the pattern sensed by said cam follower means in said sensing position, each of said push-button means including a lever having a control portion terminating in a recessed shoulder, and a push button on said lever, said levers being mounted on said frame for turning movement about a common axis, and said push buttons being arranged adjacent each other to form a keyboard; spring means biasing said push-button means to assume an inoperative stacked position in which said control portions and shoulders are aligned; spring-loaded locking means mounted on said frame and tending to assume a locking position, said locking means engaging said control portions of said push-button means and snapping into said recessed shoulder of any push-button means in said actuated position for locking the same and for rigidly supporting the same for providing a rigid fulcrum in said actuated position about which the respective cam follower means pivots while said push button means is motionless, said control portion of each other push-button means moving said locking means out of said locking position when the respective other push-button means moves to said actuated position so that the first locked push-button means is released by said locking means whereupon said locking means snaps into said recessed shoulder of said other push-button means for rigidly supporting the same and so that a plurality of push-button means simultaneously moved to said actuated positions will be locked by said locking means engaging said recessed shoulders of said push-button means in actuated positions.

5. A sewing machine as set forth in claim 4 and including a releasing push-button means mounted on said frame stacked with said first-mentioned push-button means and having a control portion engaged by said locking means so that actuation of said releasing push-button means will effect movement of said locking means out of said locking position so that any locked push-button means is released.

6. A sewing machine as set forth in claim 5 wherein said locking means includes a plate slidably mounted on said frame, and spring means urging said locking plate into engagement with said control portions of all said push-button levers; wherein said control portions are inclined to said shoulders, and wherein said shoulder of a push-button means in said actuated position is located outwardly of the aligned control portions of the other pushbutton levers so that said locking plate engages said shoulder of any actuated push-button means while abutting said control portions of push-button levers which are not in actuated position.

7. An ornamental stitch sewing machine comprising, in combination, a frame; a needle mounted on said frame for transverse movements; drive means; turnable cam means mounted on said frame and driven by said drive means, said cam means including a plurality of cams having different cam track patterns; transmission means connected to said needle; a plurality of cam follower means respectively located opposite said cams and connected to said transmission means so that movement of any one cam follower means actuates said needle through said transmission means, each of said cam follower means having a part-circular recess; a plurality of push-button means respectively located opposite said cam follower means, each push-button means including a part-circular projection having a radius corresponding to the radius of said part-circular recesses, each push-button means being movable to an actuated position in which the part-circular projection thereof is located in said recess of the respective oppositely located cam follower means for supporting the same for pivotal movement about an axis passing through the centers of the respective recess and projection while located in a sensing position in which the respective cam follower means engages the associated cam and is rocked by the same about the fulcrum provided by said projection whereby said needle is transversely shifted in conformance with the pattern sensed by said cam follower means in said sensing position; and locking means for locking said push-button means in said actuated position so that the same is rigidly supported on said frame for providing a rigid fulcrum for said pivot- 10 ing cam follower means while said push button means is motionless and operable.

8. An ornamental stitch sewing machine comprising in combination, a frame; a needle mounted on said frame for transverse movements; drive means; turnable cam means mounted on said frame and driven by said drive means, said cam means including a plurality of cams having different cam track patterns; a plurality of cam follower levers respectively located opposite said cams, said cam follower levers having superimposed ends formed with aligned bores; a pin passing through said bores; transmission means operatively connected to said needle and including a link articulated to said pin, each of said cam follower levers having a part-circular recess; a plurality of push-button means respectively located opposite said cam follower levers, each push-button means including a part-circular projection having a radius corresponding to the radius of said part-circular recesses, each push-button means being movable to an actuated position in which the part-circular projection thereof is located in said recess of the respective oppositely located cam follower lever for supporting the same for pivotal movement about an axis passing through the centers of the respective recess and projection while located in a sensing position in which the respective cam follower lever engages the associated cam and is rocked by the same about the fulcrum provided by said projection whereby said needle is transversely shifted in conformance with the pattern sensed by said cam follower means in said sensing position; and locking means for locking said pushbutton means in said actuated position so that the same is rigidly supported on said frame for providing a rigid fulcrum for said pivoting cam follower means while said push button means is motionless and operable.

9. An ornamental stitch sewing machine comprising, in combination, a frame; a needle mounted on said frame for transverse movements; drive means; turnable cam means mounted on said frame and driven by said drive means, said cam means including a plurality of cams having different cam track patterns; a plurality of cam follower levers respectively located opposite said cams, said cam follower levers having superimposed ends formed with aligned bores; a pin passing through said bores; a lever means supported on said frame for rocking movement about an axis and having a free end supporting said pin; transmission means operatively connected to said needle and including a link articulated to said pin so that movement of any one cam follower lever actuates said needle through said transmission means, each of said cam follower levers having a part-circular recess, said partcircular recesses being normally superimposed; a plurality of push-button means respectively located opposite said cam follower levers, each push-button means including a part-circular projection having a radius corresponding to the radius of said part-circular recesses, each push-button means being movable to an actuated position in which the part-circular projection thereof is located in said recess of the respective oppositely located cam follower lever for supporting the same for pivotal movement about an axis passing through the centers of the respective re cess and projection and coinciding with said axis of said lever means when said cam follower means is shifted by said push-button lever to a sensing position in which the respective cam follower lever engages the associated cam and is rocked by the same about the fulcrum provided by said projection whereby said needle is transversely shifted in conformance with the pattern sensed by said cam follower means in said sensing position; and locking means for locking said push-button means in said actuated position so that the same is rigidly supported on said frame for providing a rigid fulcrum for said pivoting cam follower means while said push button means is motionless and operable.

10. A sewing machine as set forth in claim 9 wherein said cam follower levers are normally in a stacked inoperative position spaced from said cams with said partcircular recesses superimposed and with said part-circular projections of said push-button means located in the respective recesses.

11. An ornamental stitch sewing machine comprising, in combination, a frame; a needle mounted on said frame for transverse movements; a driven cam shaft having an eccentric actuating portion; a cam unit turnably mounted on said frame and including a plurality of stacked cams having different cam track patterns; a drive element turnably mounted on said frame coaxial with said stacked cams and including a cam follower member controlled by said actuating portion so that said drive element performs reciprocating turning movements; one-way coupling means connecting said drive element with said cam unit so that said cam unit turns only in one direction during reciprocating movement of said drive element; transmission means connected to said needle; a plurality of cam follower means respectively located opposite said cams and connected to said transmission means so that movement of any one cam follower means actuates said needle through said transmission means; and a plurality of operator influenced means respectively movable to actuated positions abutting said cam follower means, respectively, for supporting the same for pivotal movement about a fulcrum in a sensing position in which the respective cam follower means engages the respective cam and is rocked by the same about the fulcrum provided by said operator influenced means in said actuated position; and means for rigidly holding said operator influenced means in each of said actuating positions whereby said needle is transversely shifted in conformance with the pattern sensed by said cam follower means pivoting about said fulcrum while said operator influenced means is rigidly held and motionless.

12. An ornamental stitch sewing machine comprising, in combination, a frame; a needle mounted on said frame for transverse movements; a driven cam shaft having an eccentric actuating portion; a cam unit turnably mounted on said frame and including a plurality of stacked cams having different cam track patterns; a drive element turnably mounted on said frame co-axial with said stacked cams and including a cam follower member controlled by said actuating portion so that said drive element performs reciprocating turning movements; adjustable means operatively connected to said drive element for limiting turning movement of the same so that said cam follower member of said drive element engages said eccentric actuated portion only during part of each revolution of said eccentric actuating portion to perform shorter strokes; one-way coupling means connecting said drive element wtih said cam unit so that said cam unit turns only in one direction during reciprocating movement of said drive element; transmission means connected to said needle; a plurality of cam follower means respectively located opposite said cams and connected to said transmission means so that movement of any one cam follower means actuates said needle through said transmission means; and a plurality of operator influenced means respectively movable to actuated positions abutting said cam follower means, respectively, for supporting the same for pivotal movement about a fulcrum in a sensing position in which the respective cam follower means engages the respective cam and is rocked by the same about the fulcrum provided by said operator influenced means in any actuated position; and means for rigidly holding each operator influenced means in said actuating position thereof whereby said needle is transversely shifted in conformance with the pattern sensed by said cam follower means pivoting about said fulcrum while said operator influenced means is rigidly held and motionless.

13. An ornamental stitch sewing machine comprising, in combination, a frame; a needle mounted on said frame for transverse movements; a driven cam shaft having an eccentric actuating portion; a cam unit turnably mounted on said frame and including a plurality of stacked cams having different cam track patterns; a drive element turnably mounted on said frame co-axial with said stacked cams and including a cam follower member controlled by said actuating portion so that said drive element performs reciprocating turning movements; one-way coupling means connecting said drive element with said cam unit so that said cam unit turns only in one direction during reciprocating movement of said drive element; transmission means connected to said needle; a plurality of cam follower means respectively located opposite said cams and connected to said transmission means so that movement of any one cam follower means actuates said needle through said transmission means; a plurality of push-button means respectively located opposite said cam follower means, each push-button means being movable to an actuated position abutting the respective oppositely located cam follower means for supporting the same for pivotal movement about a fulcrum in a sensing position in which the respective cam follower engages the associated cam and is rocked by the same about the fulcrum provided by said push-button means in said actuated position whereby said needle is transversely shifted in conformance with the pattern sensed by said cam follower means in said sensing position; locking means on said frame for locking said push-button means in said actuated position so that a locked push-button means is rigidly supported on said frame in said actuated position for providing a rigid fulcrum, and is motionless; and means for releasing said locking means.

14. An ornamental stitch sewing machine comprising, in combination, a frame; a needle mounted on said frame for transverse movements; drive means; turnable cam means mounted on said frame and driven by said drive means, said cam means including a plurality of cams having different cam track patterns; a plurality of cam follower means respectively located opposite said cams, said cam follower means having superimposed ends formed with aligned bores; a pin passing through said bores; transmission means operatively connected to said needle and including a link articulated to said pin, a stitch control lever means articulated to said link and including a slide member turnably mounted thereon, a rocking lever driven from said drive means in a rocking movement about an axis and having a groove slidably receiving said slide member, and motion transmitting means connecting said slide member with said needle; a manually operated support supporting said stitch control lever so that the same can be adjusted between a plurality of positions in which said slide member is located in different parts of said groove spaced different radial distances from said axis of said rocking lever; a plurality of push-button means respectively located opposite said cam follower means, each push-button means having a projecting fulcrum portion and being movable to an actuated position in which said fulcrum portion abuts the respective oppositely located cam follower means for supporting the same for pivotal movement about a fulcrum in a sensing position in which the respective cam follower engages the associated cam and is rocked by the same about the fulcrum provided by said fulcrum portion of said pushbutton means in said actuated position whereby said needle is transversely shifted in conformance with the pattern sensed by said cam follower means in said sensing position; locking means on said frame for locking said push-button means in said actuated position so that a locked push-button means is rigidly supported on said frame in said actuated position for providing a rigid fulcrum, and is motionless; and means for releasing said locking means.

15. A sewing machine as set forth in claim 14 wherein said motion transmitting means includes a lever member mounted for free rocking movement on said frame and having a control face, a connecting link articulated to said slide member and to said lever member so that the same is rocked, a connecting bar operatively connected to said needle and having an end portion engaging said control face; and operator controlled means for shifting said end portion of said connecting bar along said control face for varying the radial distance between said end portion and the turning axis of said lever member.

16. A sewing machine as set forth in claim 15 wherein said operator controlled means include a handle having means for arresting the same in two positions on said frame and a portion connected to said handle and having a slot; and wherein said end portion of said bar includes a pin located in said slot.

17. An ornamental stitch sewing machine comprising, in combination, a frame; a needle mounted on said frame for transverse movements; drive means; turnable cam means mounted on said frame and driven by said drive means, said cam means including a plurality of cams having different cam track patterns; a plurality of cam follower means respectively located opposite said cams, said cam follower means having superimposed ends formed with aligned bores; a lever mounted on said frame for turning movement about an axis and having a pin parallel to said axis and passing through said bores; transmission means operatively connected to said needle and including a link articulated to said pin; a plurality of pushbutton means respectively located opposite said cam follower means, each push-button means being movable between an inoperative position and an actuated position while abutting the respective oppositely located cam follower means for supporting the same in said actuated position for pivotal movement about said axis, each push button means turning the respective cam follower means about said pin to a sensing position in which the respective cam follower engages the associated cam and is rocked by the same about said axis on a fulcrum provided by said push-button means in said actuated position whereby said needle is transversely shifted in conformance with the pattern sensed by said cam follower means in said sensing position; locking means on said frame for locking said push-button means in said actuated position so that a locked push-button means is rigidly supported on said frame in said actuated position.

18. An ornamental stitch sewing machine comprising, in combination, a frame; a needle mounted on said frame for transverse movements; drive means; turnable cam means mounted on said frame and driven by said drive means, said cam means including a plurality of cams having different cam track patterns; transmission means connected to said needle; a plurality of cam follower means respectively located opposite said cams and connected to said transmission means so that movement of any One cam follower means actuates said needle through said transmission means; and a plurality of operator influenced means respectively movable to actuated positions abutting said cam follower means, respectively, for supporting the same for pivotal movement about a single axis in a sensing position in which the respective cam follower means engages the respective cam and is turned by the same about said axis on a fulcrum provided by any operator influenced means in said actuated position; and means for rigidly holding each operator influenced means in said actuating position thereof; whereby said needle is transversely shifted in conformance with the pattern sensed by said cam follower means pivoting about said fulcrum while said operator influenced means is rigidly held and motionless.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,810,360 10/1957 Perla 112-158 2,854,935 10/1958 Benink et a1. 112-158 3,075,483 1/1963 Engel 112158 3,143,985 8/1964 Reeber et al. 112-158 FOREIGN PATENTS 329,688 6/1958 Switzerland.

ROBERT V. SLOAN, Primary Examiner.

THOMAS J. HICKEY, Examiner. 

1. AN ORNAMENTAL STITCH SEWING MACHINE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A FRAME; A NEEDLE MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME FOR TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT; DRIVE MEANS; TURNABLE CAM MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME AND DRIVEN BY SAID DRIVE MEANS, SAID CAM MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF CAMS HAVING DIFFERENT CAM TRACK PATTERNS; TRANSMISSION MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID NEEDLE; A PLURALITY OF CAM FOLLOWER MEANS RESPECTIVELY LOCATED OPPOSITE SAID CAMS AND CONNECTED TO SAID TRANSMISSION MEANS SO THAT MOVEMENT OF ANY ONE CAM FOLLOWER MEANS ACTUATES SAID NEEDLE THROUGH SAID TRANSMISSION MEANS, EACH CAM FOLLOWER MEANS HAVING FIRST ABUTMENT MEANS; OPERATOR INFLUENCED MEANS HAVING SECOND ABUTMENT MEANS, ONE OF SAID ABUTMENT MEANS HAVING A RECESS AND THE OTHER ABUTMENT MEANS HAVING A PROJECTION ADAPTED TO FIT INTO SAID RECESS, SAID OPERATOR INFLUENCED MEANS BEING SELECTIVELY MOVABLE BETWEEN A PLURALITY OF ACTUATED POSITIONS IN WHICH SAID PROJECTION IS LOCATED IN SAID RECESS FOR SUPPORTING AT LEAST ONE CAM FOLLOWER MEANS FOR ANGULAR MOVEMENT ONLY ABOUT A SINGLE AXIS IN A SENSING POSITION IN WHICH THE SELECTED CAM FOLLOWER MEANS ENGAGES THE RESPECTIVE CAM AND IS ROCKED BY THE SAME ABOUT SAID AXIS AND ON A FULCRUM PROVIDED BY SAID OPERATOR INFLUENCED MEANS IN SAID ACTUATED POSITION; AND MEANS FOR RIGIDLY HOLDING SAID OPERATOR INFLUENCED MEANS IN EACH OF SAID ACTUATING POSITIONS WHEREBY SAID NEEDLE IS TRANSVERSELY SHIFTED IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE PATTERN SENSED BY SAID CAM FOLLOWER MEANS PIVOTING ABOUT SAID FULCRUM WHILE SAID OPERATOR INFLUENCED MEANS IS RIGIDLY HELD AND MOTIONLESS. 